Nail-finishing machine



(No Mqdel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet '1.

E. E. PIERCE.

NAIL FINISHING MACHINE.

u PETERS. Phoblidwgnphef. Washington m;

(No Mode1.)i 2' Sh-eets-Sheet 2.

E. B. PIERCE.

, NAIL FINISHING MACHINE. v No. 879,413. Patented Mar. 13, 1888.

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NAIL-FINISHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,413, dated March13, 1888.

Application filed November 15, 1887. Serial No. 255,255. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERASTUS E. Francis, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New Brighton, Beaver county, Pennsylvania,

haveinvented certain new and useful Improve' ments in hail-FinishingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of machines for finishinghorseshoe-nail blanks of the character shown and described in UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 363,417, granted May 24, 1887; and the presentinvention consists in certain improvements upon the machine thereinshown, to be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate so much of the saidfinishing-machine as will aid to a perfect understanding of the presentimprovements.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central elevation of thoseparts of the improved finishing-machi me which operate directly upon thenail-blanks. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, some parts beingomitted; Fig. 3. a detached plan view of the nail'transferring deviceenlarged. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the indenting mechanism detachedfrom the machine, showing it in its raised position. Fig. 5 is anenlarged end elevation of the shearing device, illustrating the arms forcentering the blank; and Fig. 6, illustrated by edge and plan views, thenail-blank indented prior to being sheared.

In the machine set forth in my said patent the nailblanks are placed ina hopper or reservoir, A, from which the bottom blank is withdrawn bybeing seized between a pairof carryingfingers, D, which carry it to anailholder, B, consisting of a narrow disk, cl, and

a narrow overhanging blade, 0, toward which the disk is pressed bysprings d for clamping the nailblank against the blade, when thefingers 1) separate prior to returning to a position to seize anotherblank from the hopper. Simultaneous with the seizureof another blank bythe carrying-fingers, clamping side jaws, m, m act to seize the blankclamped by the nailholder B, and while the carrying-fingers are moved inthe same direction with the second blank the jaws m carry the precedingblank from the holder between finishing-dies f g, which are of suchcontour as will operate to transfer device with the jaws being partiallyrotated presents the blank upon an anvil, o, in position to be shearedby a cutter, O.

The construction of the devices just described, their operation, and theorganized mechanism by which said operations are aocomplishedautomatically are so fully illustrated and described in my aforesaidpatent that no detailed description thereof need be given herein.

The nail-blank in the machine of my said patent in passing between thediesfg was in dented at or about the portion ultimately forming thebeveled point of the finished nail, and in this condition wastransferred directly to and placed upon the anvil, as previouslydescribed.

It is sometimes desirable to impartthe indentation to the nail-blank bydevices other than the roller-dies, and to effect the forming andplanishing operation of the dies and the indentation of the blank byseparate devices. The present improvements are directed to effect thisdesideratum.

The roller-die 9, instead of carrying an indenting projection, t, asshown in the patent referred to, is left plain, out in other respects isthe same as previously described,and in lieu thereof there is providedan indenting mechanism, V, mounted over the transferring device in thepath of the travel of the blank, as will hereinafter appear.

The transfer device U may be constructed in any suitable manner. Asshown,it consists of a disk, q, mounted upon a shaft, L, so as to berotated thereon in the direction of the arrow 1, Fig. 1, and preventedfrom rotating in the reverse direction by a friction or other pawl, q,that may, if found desirable, enter suitable notches on the disk, as theshaft h intermittently carries the transferringjaws to their properpositions.

Instead of a single pair of jaws, n, as in the former machine, the hubsH, secured to the shaft L, so as to turn therewith upon opposite sidesof the disk q, carry two pairs of jaws, a n arranged to extend at rightangles to each other in such manner that while one pair of the jaws isin position to receivea formed and planished blank from the clampingside jaws, m, the other jaws will be in position to seize upon thepreceding blank held by the indent ing mechanism, and when the firstnamed jaws are in position to present a blank to the indenting mechanismthe other jaws will present their blank upon the anvil, as will bereadily understood.

Each of thejaws of each pair is mounted in an arm, 10, that is pivotallymounted upon the hub H, the face of each arm adjacent to the disk qbeing provided with an inclined lug, 1', (see Fig. 3,) adapted to engagewith similar bevel faced or sided notches,x, formed in the oppositesides of the disk, as shown in Fig. 1. The jaws are pressed inward byflat springs 12, bearing upon the arms 10, so as to force the lugs r toenter the notches as theyare brought opposite the same. The operationsof the transferring device, as in my said patent, are such that in theposition of the jaws n n in Fig. 1 the shaft L, being rocked in thedirection of the arrow 2, the hubs H, carrying the jaws, will belikewise turned, and as the disk (1 is prevented by the pawl g fromturning in this direction the lugs 1' of each arm 10 will be forced overthe beveled faces of and out of engagement with the notches :0. The jawswill thus be swung apart, so as to release their hold upon the heads ofthe nail-blanks. The arms will then move past the faces of the diskuntil the lugs 2' enter the other notches a, when the shaft and jawswill have been rotated a quarter-turn, thus closing the jaws upon theheads of other nail-blanks in position to be seized.

The indenting mechanism V may be of suitable construction. As shown, itconsists of an anvil, 8, and pointed die, 9, the latter carried by aslotted or forked arm, 31, the hubs of which swing on a rock-shaft, 32,rocking in suitable bearings upon the side frames of the machine.

The anvil 8 is held in a tongue, 33, that depends from a cross-barcarried by the arm 31, and is pressed out of contact with theindenting-die 9 by a spring, 7. The die 9 fits a socket in the end ofthe arm 31, and is provided with means for adjusting its position, sothat the degree of indentation may be regulated. The tongue 33 has aprojection, s, with a tapering socket, 4, to receive the end of anail-blank. Between the hubs of the arm 31 there is mounted a collar,34, in which is a socket for one end of a toggle, 35, its other endbeing seated in the rear of the tongue 33. The collar 34 is providedwith a pin, 36, that enters a hole in the shaft 32, so that the shaftand collar turn together. The upper end of this pin 36 forms a supportfor one end of a rod, 6, pivoted between the projections of the arm 31and bearing a spring, 5, which presses against said pin 36.

The shaft 32 is rocked from any moving part of the machine. As shown, ithas at the end a crank-disk, 42, having a socket for the end of atoggle-lever, 41, which, when straightened, moves the disk and shaft inthe direction of the arrow, a spring, 33, turning it in the oppositedirection when the toggle is deflected.

The arm 31 is carried with the rock shaft by the pressure of the pin 36on the spring 5, so that after said arm 31 takes its bearing on thebracket 37 the rock-shaft can continue its movement, the spring 5 beingcompressed to thereby straighten the toggle 35 and force in ward thetongue 33.

The arm 31 being in the inclined position shown in Fig. 4, the operationof the indenting mechanism thus constructed is such that when thejaws nare moved with a nail-blank into the position shown in Fig. 1 the shaft32 will be rocked, so that the arm 31 is lowered, and the tapered mouth4 of the tongue 33 will pass over the end of the nail, centering thelatter, until the arm arrives in the position shown in Fig. 1, thefurther motion being stopped by the bracket 37, provided for thatpurpose. At the time the arm 31 is lowered the dies 9 .and 8 areseparated sufficiently to permit the end of the nail-blank to projectabove the indenting end of the die 9, when the shaft 32, continuing itsvibration, will then turn the collar 34, pressing the toggle against therear of the tongue 33, and thus press its anvil 8 and the blank endagainst the indenting-die 9 and indent the blank, as in Fig. 6. Duringthe indentation of the blank, and while it is held by the die 9, themachine is so timed that the shaft L will be rocked backward in thedireciion of the arrow 2, thus causing the jaws n to release their holdupon the nail-blank, so as to leave it suspended from the indentingjaws,and when the shaft L has reached the limit of its movement the otherjaws, n, will be in position to seize the head of the suspended blank,so that when the shaft 32 returns to its other position, through theaction of the spring 38, the jaws n n will be free to be rotated in thereverse direction. As the shaft 32 rocks back, the first action, whilethe spring 5 is compressed, is to loosen the toggle and withdraw thetongue and release the blank; the next, as the pin 36 bears on the rod6, is to lift the arm 31 to its elevated position. Simultaneous with theseizure of the blank by the jaws n the other jaws, n, will have alsoseized another blank, advanced in position by the side clampingjaws, m.The transferring device will now be rotated so that the jaws n willcarry the nailblank in position upon the anvil 0, as seen in Fig. 1, theother jaws carrying a blank into position to beindented by the indentingmechanism, when the operations before described will be repeated. Thusthe action of the transferring device is such that the nail-blankpresented thereto with one face uppermost is reversed so that its otherface-its beveled faceis presented uppermost upon the anvil 0. The blankwhen presented upon the anvil is centered thereon, so as to be properlysheared by the cutter o, by spring-blades it, carried by thecutter-head, as in the machine before de scribed, that are broughtagainst opposite sides of the blank after thetransfer-jaws n have cometo rest. In the machine described in the aforesaid patent these bladeswere moved toward each other as the cutter-head rotated in passingbetween fixed armsj.

It has been found desirable, in order to lessen friction and permit ofaccurate adjustment, to mount these armsj in the manner shown in Fig. 5.These arms are pivoted to brackets depending from acrossbar, X, of themachine located just in rear of the shaft 32, so that the rolls a at theend of the arms are in position to operate on the blades k as thecutterhead rotates. Adjustment of the operative position of the armsj isobtained by extending them between set-screws 2, mounted in lugs 60, asshown in Figs. 2 and 5.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specificconstructions shown, as it is evident that they may be changed in manyrespects byintelligent mechanics.

No claim is herein made for the method of finishing horseshoe-nailsherein described, neither for any combinations of devices shown hereinthat are embodied in my aforesaid patent, and therein claimed.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with finishingdies, of atransferring device provided with graspingjaws and indenting-diesadapted to indent the nail-blank presented by the transferring device,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with finishing and indenting dies adaptedto finishand indent the nail-blank, and a shearing device, of a trans ferringdevice provided with grasping-jaws for taking the nail after it haspassed between the roller-dies and presenting it to theindenting-dies,and from thence taking and presenting it to the shearing device,substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a nail-indenting device and a transferringdevice to feed successive nail-blanks to said indenting device, ofasecond transfer device and jaws adapted to seize and remove the blankafter it has been indented, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with anail-indenting device and a transferringdevice provided with jaws adapted to feed successive nail-blanks to saidindenting device, of a second set of jaws adapted to seize and removethe blank after it has been indented, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with finishing-dies and a shearing device, ofintermediate indentingdics and a transfer device arranged and operatingto carry the blank from the finishing to the indenting dies and then tothe shearing device in a reversed position, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in a device for feeding successive blanks, of arotating notched disk, q, a detect, and two sets ofjaws mounted adjacentto said disk and means for rocking said jaws, one of said sets of jawsadapted to feed the blank partof the distance and the other set adaptedto take said blank and feed it the remainder of the distance,substantially as described.

7. The combinatiomwith finishing-dies and a shearing device, 01' anail-blauk-feeding device and an indenting device consisting of a pairof dies between which the blank is presented by the feeding device,substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a nail-blank-feeding device, of an indentingdevice consisting of a stationary die and a movable die or anvil, andmeans, substantially as described, for moving the latter against thestationary die.

9. The combinati0n,with the blank-feeding device, of an armcarryingindenting-dies and adjustably supported to bring said dies tooperate on theend of the blank after the latter is presented in positionby the feeding device, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with a nail-blank feeding device for feeding andholding the blanks to be indented, of a carrier movable to and from theend of the blank and an indenting device carried by said carrier,substantially as described.

11. The combination,with a nail-blank'feeding device for feeding blanksto be indented, of an indenting device carried by avibrating carrier,whereby to first embrace the blank held by the feeding device and thento indent it, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a movable carrier for a nail-blank, ofindentingdies and dieoperating mechanism and a carrier for said dies,reciprocating to and from the blank-carrier to carry the dies intoposition to operate on the blank and then out of the path of the blankprior to its further movement by the blankcarrier, substantially asdescribed.

13. The combination of a carrier, a supporting-shaft, indenting-diessupported by said carrier, a toggle-arm for operating one of the dies,anda rocking sleeve on said shaft, having a socket for said togglearm,substantially as described.

14. The combination of a rock-shaft, a carrierhung thereon and carryinga stationary and a movable indenting-die, a support for the movable die,and a toggle-arm connected therewith and seated in a socketin the shaft,and a connection having a limited play between the shaft and thecarrier, substantially as de scribed.

15. The combination, with an arm provided the said anvil and theindenting-die together, substantially as described.

16. The combination, with a rocking arm carrying an indentingdie, as 9,of a tongue carried by said arm and having an anvil cooperating withsaid die, and adevice for rocking said arm, substantiallyas described.

17. The combination, with an oscillating shaft and an arm mountedthereon, of a tongue carried by said arm, an anvil and die carried bythe tongue and arm, and a toggle whereby to press the die and anviltoward each other, substantially as described.

18. The combination, with an arm carrying an iudenting'die, as 9, of atongue carried by said arm and having an anvil for cooperation with saiddie, and provided with a tapering mouth for centering the blank betweenthe die and anvil, substantially as described.

19. The combination, with a disk rotating in one direction, of two pairsofjaws, the jaws of each pair mounted upon opposite sides of said disk,adapted to rotate both with and in an opposite direction to the disk,substantially as described.

20. The combination, with an anvil, of a revolving head carrying aguiding device and cutters for centering and shearing the blank upon theanvil, and adjustable arms, as j, for operating the guiding device,substantially as described.

21. The combination, in a shearing device, of an anvil, a revolving headcarrying cutters arranged to shear against the edges of the anvi], aguiding device for centering the blanks upon the anvil, and adjustablearms, asj, for operating the guiding device, substantially as described.

22. The combination, with the arms j and anvil, of adjusting-screws 2,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificatiouin thepresence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ERASTUS E. PI ERGE.

YVitnesses:

S. F. JACKSON,

E. W. KEYSER.

